Scenery 2

Yesterday started off rather chilly, but it was a beautiful day. You can't see the distant Rocky Mountains in this photo, but they are visible from other viewpoints. Looking at this image, I have to remind myself that this is right in the city. Went for a three-hour walk with friends along the edge of the Glenmore Reservoir, to see what birds were around. Very few, but we were able to find the two juvenile Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) swimming close to several yachts that were moored. The Surf Scoter is a large sea duck, for those unfamiliar with the name. They were a long way off - I've only ever seen this species once before - in exactly the same place. "In November, 2007, an oil spill in San Francisco harbour oiled and killed thousands of birds including many Surf Scoters. About 40 per cent of the birds affected were from this species. Scientists said that while the species is not endangered it has declined 50 to 70 per cent over the past 40 years and this spill could decrease populations since most of the affected birds are healthy adults." From Wikipedia. Here in Calgary, the report of a Surf Scoter adds a little excitement to the birding community : ) The paved path that goes around the Reservoir is 11 kms long and is part of the Calgary city pathway system. The south west part of the path goes through Weaselhead, which is always a beautiful area to bike or walk. Anyone else having problems with Flickr this morning (11:15 a.m.)? Almost everything I try to do ends up being Timed Out. (All seems to be OK now - Flickr was having "technical difficulties").

Another view from further down the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US, showing the pink slopes that are seen in some places, dotted with the occasional tree. You can also see a pinnacle above the centre that is red. One of the pinnacles in this canyon had an enormous Osprey nest on the top of it and luckily, when we were there, one of the birds was standing on top of the nest. Taken from Inspiration Point on the North Rim, on 14 September 2012, the 4th day of our week's trip. "The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River slices through an ancient hydrothermal basin. The basin developed in rhyolitic lava and ash that flowed into the Yellowstone Caldera about 500,000 years ago. The river carved this spectacular canyon through the hardened lava (rhyolitic rock) and welded ash (tuff). Hot areas and steam vents still exist in the canyon. They allow heat, gases and hot water to escape from the underground Yellowstone Volcano. The canyon is about 20 miles (32 kms) long and parts of the canyon are nearly 1,200 feet (366 m) deep." Taken from a sign at the Canyon. Today in Calgary, it's 1C and has been snowing most of the day.

I was so thrilled to get the chance to visit the Grand Tetons on the 5th day of our week's trip to Wyoming. Unfortunately, we arrived at this well-known location at just the "wrong" time of day, when you had to more or less look into the sun to photograph the jagged peaks of the mountain range and the few scattered barns. The herd of wild Bison in the area was a treat, too. Taken on 15 September 2012 at Mormon Row. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Row_Historic_District www.jacksonholenet.com/history_museums/mormon_row.php "The bison (Bison bison) is the largest land mammal in North America. In a typical year, more than 3,000 bison roam the grasslands of Yellowstone National Park. Bulls are more massive in appearance than cows, and more bearded. For their size, bison are agile and quick, capable of speeds in excess of 30 mph. Each year, bison injure park visitors who approach too closely. Most animals in Yellowstone are subject to different management goals when they leave the park. Bison require special attention because many have been exposed to the bacteria that causes brucellosis, a disease that also infects domestic cattle. Yellowstone has worked with the state of Montana and other federal agencies to develop a plan for managing the bison population in a way that protects both its wild and free-roaming characteristics and the health of Montana cattle. Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 states where a population of wild bison has persisted since prehistoric times, although fewer than 50 native bison remained here in 1902. Fearing extinction, the park imported 21 bison from two privately-owned herds, as foundation stock for a bison ranching project that spanned 50 years at the Buffalo Ranch in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley. Activities there included irrigation, hay-feeding, roundups, culling, and predator control, to artificially ensure herd survival. By the 1920s, some intermingling of the introduced and wild bison had begun. With protection from poaching, the native and transplanted populations increased. In 1936, bison were transplanted to historic habitats in the Firehole River and Hayden Valley. In 1954, the entire population numbered 1,477. Bison were trapped and herds periodically reduced until 1967, when only 397 bison were counted park wide. All bison herd reduction activities were phased out after 1966, again allowing natural ecological processes to determine bison numbers and distribution. Although winterkill takes a toll, by 1996 bison numbers had increased to about 3,500." www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/bison.htm

Taken at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, looking over the Main Terrace (I believe) with its mineral deposits and dead trees. Such a contrast to the distant mountain peaks and the scattered trees on the closest mountain slope. Photo taken on 12 September 2012, the second day of my week's trip with friends. I definitely prefer this klind of "white stuff" to the cold, slippery "white stuff" that is falling and accumulating here again today. My friends from England had never seen a Mountain Bluebird, so it was amazing to see one here. I had never expected to see such a bird in this kind of landscape.

Not easy to remember what all the different hot springs and geysers are, in Yellowstone National Park, so hopefully I am identifying them correctly. I believe this hot spring is Black Pool, at the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Amazing how similar some of them look - especially once you are back home after your trip and five weeks have gone by : ) "The pool was cool enough up until 1991 for dark orange-brown cyanobacteria to grow throughout the pool. When combined with the blue of the water, the pool appeared to be an exceptionally dark green to almost black, hence the name." An exchange of function took place in 1991, shifting thermal energy to Black Pool and nearby Abyss Pool, causing them to heat up. Black Pool's temperature became hot enough to kill all the cyanobacteria in the pool, turning the pool a rich teal blue color. The pool also had frequent boiling eruptions on August 15, 1991, doming the water to 3 feet and causing heavy runoff. Black Pool remains extremely hot, and is now one of Yellowstone's most beautiful and intensely blue pools. The name of the pool remains "Black Pool." From Wikipedia. The dark orange-brown cyanobacteria seems to be back along this one edge of the spring. ""Temperature of Black Pool is 132°F. Dimensions 40x75 feet. Depth 30 feet. Black Pool is one of the largest springs in the West Thumb Geyser Basin. The dark-colored water is the combination of the natural, transparent blue of the water and the orange algae lining of the pool. The low temperature of the pool is responsible for the abundant growth of the orange-colored microbial mats. Algae and cyanobacteria in combination with sinter deposits have created coral-like formations on the sides of the pool but these are visible for only a few feet. The pH of Black Pool is a slightly alkaline 7.8." www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/westthumb.htm

Like anywhere else in the mountains, Forgetmenot Pond (off Elbow Falls Trail, Highway 66, in Kananaskis) looks different each time you see it, depending mainly on the clouds. This particular day, there were none, unfortunately. There was also only a very slight breeze, so the lake surface was mirror-like. Taken on 27 September 2012.

Problems with uploading today, so am having to add my photos one at a time and hopefully that will work. Another view looking over the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US. Taken on 14 September 2012, the fourth day of our week's trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Close to the brink of the Upper Falls?

Spent ages last night trying to find out the name of this mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana, US, but had no luck. Quite spectacular, though, with its banding. Wish I was there right now, especially when I glance through my window and see snow everywhere. Not snowing today, thankfully.

What a performance getting my photos uploaded today - again! These are terraces seen at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US. Photographed on 12th September 2012, the second day of our week's trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I visited Mammoth Hot Springs and the rest of Yellowstone National Park 32 years ago, when my kids were very young. Loved Mammoth Hot Springs, so was thrilled to get the chance to see this fascinating area again. "Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park ... It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth each day in a solution). Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas... A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Hot_Springs For a diagram of the Hot Springs layout: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MammothHotSprings.JPG Map of Yellowstone National Park: hfc.nps.gov/carto/PDF/YELLmap2.pdf